Quebec is the first Canadian province to list TRYNGOLZA® (olezarsen) on the drug formulary of its public drug insurance plan. Developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals and marketed in Canada by Celystra, this treatment offers a new therapeutic option for people living with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), a rare genetic disorder characterized by extremely high triglyceride levels and a significant risk of acute pancreatitis.
This decision marks a step forward for people with FCS and highlights Quebec’s contribution to research, clinical development, and access to treatments for rare diseases.
Quebec has been involved in the clinical development of this therapeutic approach for nearly ten years, first with the parent compound and then with olezarsen. Because the prevalence of FCS is higher in Quebec than elsewhere in Canada, many Quebec patients have participated in clinical trials. The province is also home to centers of excellence and recognized specialists in the management of this disease, notably Dr. Jacques Baass and his team at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Dr. Gaudet of the Ecogène 21 group in Saguenay, and Drs. Couture and Bergeron of the CHUL in Quebec City.
BIOQuébec congratulates its member Celystra on this achievement. As a Quebec-based company, Celystra is responsible for regulatory approvals and the commercialization of TRYNGOLZA® in Canada. In the field of rare diseases, where patient populations are limited, the commitment of companies capable of bringing these innovations to patients is crucial for transforming scientific advances into accessible treatments.
This announcement highlights the strength of Quebec’s life sciences ecosystem, where clinical research, medical expertise, and innovative companies work together to improve access to therapies, including for the rarest diseases.
